Golf training apparatus



Aug. 15, 1939. CROWLEY 2,169,407

GOLF TRAINING APPARATUS Filed June 4, 1938 a WW0 r2163 Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 2 Claims.

My present invention is a novel and improved golf training apparatus, and is directed to improve and perfect the typeof device for teaching and practicing golf illustrated and described in my prior and copending application Ser. No. 195,499 filed March 12, 1938.

Important objects of the present invention are to simplify the construction of my said prior apparatus, to improve the adjustability and, in general, to render such devices, more practical for use, retaining all the advantageous features: in a more economical structure, with capacity for fuller adjustments.

A further and important feature consists in protecting certain parts of the apparatus from damage or injury to the clubs of the player using the device; and for this purpose I enclose, encase, or cover the parallel guide bars with yielding and protecting material, such as rubber, so that accidental striking of the same by the clubduring the use of the device will cause no damage or injury to the club itself nor to the parallel bars. Other parts of the apparatus can be similarly protected, if desired, Within the scope of my present invention.

A still further feature consists in the capacity for and adaptability of quick and rapid radial adjustment of certain of the gauges and measuring elements. Also, such radial adjustment is effected by simply loosening and tightening thumb nuts, and swinging of the gauge to the desired or predetermined mark, degree, or indication point on a protractor having an are so marked to cooperate with a corresponding pointer on the gauge being radially adjusted in relation thereto and in relation to the rest of the apparatus.

Thus, such radial adjustments can be readily repeated with complete accuracy when the device has been adjusted to other points or when it is being assembled for use.

Other improvements, details, and advantages will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of my present improved apparatus,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my device;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are side and plan views, respectively, illustrating the radial adjustment of the main gauge and bar to which it is attached;

Fig. 5 is a view on the line 55 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 illustrates a modification.

Referring to the drawing, I utilize two spaced parallel bars I and 2 similar in length, size, and spacing to the corresponding parallel bars of my said prior application which are used as a double guide for the player to improve and control the swing of his clubhead when striking the ball 3, which is positioned between the parallel bars.

These bars I and 2 I prefer to form with a wooden or metal core 5 and a covering of rubber 6, thus providing a protecting, yielding, resilient surface for the bars I and 2; eliminating damage to the golf club if the same strikes either bar, and also eliminating danger of damage to the bars themselves. This feature, furthermore, imparts confidence to the player, being free from danger of damage to either the apparatus or club while practicing with the device.

Connecting the parallel guide bars I and 2 are a pair of adjustable link members, each comprising a solid link I pivoted at 8 to the crossbar 2 and a notched link 9 pivoted at It to the cross-bar I, said links being pivotally united together approximately at the center when extended to their greatest space by a pivot or bolt l2 to permit folding of these links and bringing the parallel guide bars I and 2 into close relationship for convenience in transporting. Preferably each member 9 extends beyond the pivot l2 and is provided with a spring clip portion M adapted to register with a corresponding portion 15 in the adjacent part of. the link 1 toretain these two links in extended position and thus lock the parallel bars properly spaced. To effect adjustment of width between the bars I and 2, the series of notches in each link lil opening on a slot l6 are adapted to slide on the shank of the retaining bolt If] so that when said, bolt is loosened slightly, the guide bar I may be brought closer to or further away from the companion bar 2 and held in adjusted position, any dilferent corresponding notch in each link being used, as desired, by a retightening of the bolts l9, as will be readily understood.

Attached also on the cross-bar 2 is a gauge or guide 19, and adjacent thereto on one side is a track I! upon which a slide l8 may travel, such slide carrying a bracket 20 to which is pivotally secured at 2| a gauge 22. Thus the gauge member 22 may be adjusted to and fro on the bar I to any position desired or indicated on the rule l9, and may also be swung on its pivot 2| for radial adjustment to cooperate with the stance of the player desired, or the correction in the swing for which the device may be adjusted.

Secured also to the bracket 20 is a pro-tractor 25 rigidly attached thereto by the pivot bolt 2| and also 'by a rivet 26, which latter holds the protracto-r 25 firmly to the bracket. I prefer to form a series of degree marks, as indicated in Fig, 4 at 21, on the under side of the protractor 25, Fig. 4 being a plan view of this structure from underneath the apparatus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This permits the operator to stand the parallel bars upwardly and adjust the gauge 22 radially While viewing the degree markings 21 and positioning them with relation to a pointer 28 afiixed to the gauge 22 to secure the adjustment desired. Tightening of the wing nut 23 on the pivot bolt'2l will hold the gauge 22 in its radial position when adjusted out of the perpendicular lar relationship with the bar 2 a pinor bolt 38.

may be fitted therein, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The gauge 22 is formed with grooves 34 on each side to receive a pair of projecting tongues carried on the slide block 35, similar to the construction in my prior device. This block 35 carries a projecting rod 3B which may be slidover the cross bar 2 and rule [6 to determine the position of the ball 3 and, thereupon, the slide 35 may be retracted out of the way, as shown in Fig. 1, and

may be held in any position to which the rod 36- is moved by tightening a thumb nut 31, which extends thru the top of .the slide 35 and impinges on the rod 36. Also the slide 35-may be moved back and forth with its tongues inthe grooves 34 to move it out of the way of the space between the parallel guidebars l and. 2, as will be readily understood.

Preferably I affix center marks 38 on the bar I, and 39 on the bar 2 which would be the zero mark of the rule l9, so that the ball 3 may be positioned with substantial accuracy centrally of the length of the parallel guides I and 2 independently of the use of the rod 36, if desired, as well as in cooperation. therewith to locate the positioning of the golf ball 3.

Slidably secured also on the gauge 22 is a block 40 carrying a protractor 4| similar to 25 already described, which block 40 may be moved up and down to any desired position on the gauge 22 and locked in adjusted position by tightening a thumb nut 42. Pivotally mounted on the block 46 is a member 44 adapted to swing over the protractor 4| carried by the block 40, and which pivotal member has secured thereto a cross gauge 45. Preferably this cross gauge is attachedunderneath the swinging member 44v and is held in any desired adjusted position thereto by a thumb nut 41. The swinging member 44 is attached to the block 40 by an upstanding rivet or bolt 48 and may be locked in position by a threaded wing nut 50 surrounding the exposed upper end of the bolt 48 and tightening the same upon the member 44 at any angle at which said member may be positioned-on the block 40.

. Thus the gauge 22 may be slidably adjusted on the track 1'! to align the same in any desired position for theparticular' player with regardto the parallel guide bars I and 2, and, mayalso be radially positioned by swinging the same on the pivot 2 I, first removing the pin 30 if the latter is in position. Also the cross gauge 45 may be moved toward or from the parallel bars 22 by sliding the block 43, and said cross bar 45 may also be radially positioned to more accurately determine the correct or corrective stance for the feet of the player, the cross gauge 45 being ordinarily positioned for contact with the right and left toe of the player, the left foot being at one side of the gauge 22 and the right foot on the other side.

, Referring to Fig. 6, I have illustrated a modification wherein I form one of the parallel bars,

preferably number 2, with curved ends 5! and 52. In this form, the parallel guide bars I and 2 are straight and parallel for the greater part'of their distance to visualize the alignment of the path of the clubhead in striking the ball I with the end'portions of the guide 2, whichis closer to the player, having the ends formed in a curve or are which will approximate the sweep of the golf club during its swing by the player.

I find that this modification with the curved ends is desirable in many instances and is one of the features illustrated in my said prior and copending application, but. in the present form I prefer to utilize this arc on one of the parallel guides only, substantially asshown.

. I find'that this provision of the curved ends the floor or ground; or, ofcourse, the thumb nuts,

may be tightened to retain the same in thepositions to which the adjustments have been made when desired.

Thus I have provided in an extremely simple and improved construction gauges and adjustments suitable to determine, relatively with the golf ball, the stance of the player, the distance and spacing, as well as the angle and position of the feet of the player with relation to the position of the golf ball 3 to be played and for the uarticular stroke or club being used.

I claim:

1. A golf training and practicing apparatus of the kind described, comprising parallel guide rods supported above the ground and spaced to receive a golf ball therebetween, in combination with adjustable gauge members to facilitate the stance of the player relatively with said parallel guide rods, said rods being protected with a yielding tubular covering throughout the length of said 

